Struggling Cleveland Police to create new team to tackle backlog in child porn investigations

Six new posts for detectives tasked with examining dozens of computers and devices seized as part of child abuse investigations

Police are struggling to cope with the increasing numbers of child abuse pervert arrests – with a queue of dozens of computers waiting to be forensically examined.

The Cleveland force is seizing more and more computers and devices which need to be examined as part of child abuse investigations.

And some offenders are now avoiding immediate prison sentences at Teesside Crown Court – partly because of the delay in taking them before a judge.

The force will now recruit a six-strong team of specialist detectives as it looks to clear the backlog.

In the latest case, Stockton divorcee Paul Whelan avoided jail after his case took more than 18 months to come to court.

The 63-year-old was arrested on November 24, 2011, when two computers and a porn collection CD were seized.

He was further interviewed in October last year and not charged until February this year.

Whelan had 1,784 indecent photographs of children aged between seven and 11 – with 69 at the highest levels of seriousness.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield told the court: “There is a queue of computers waiting to be examined in this area.

“That is because of the time it takes, and there are priorities within the queue as investigations are made a priority.”

The Head of Crime at Cleveland Police, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Best, said there are currently 44 computer forensic examination cases awaiting investigation – and as part of these cases a total of 212 computer devices and exhibits need to be examined.

To clear the backlog, he said a new team of detectives will be created.

“To cope with the emergence of more and more computer equipment with bigger and more sophisticated memories I have implemented a structure within the computer forensic examination team which will help to deliver a more efficient means of dealing with computer crime,” the officer said.

“As part of the restructure which the force is currently undergoing, I have secured six dedicated detective posts specifically for dealing with the backlog of child exploitation and online protection cases and other similar enquires which we receive from other forces.”

He added: “I hope that once the new posts have been filled and the officers are fully trained in their new roles, we will see a reduction in the number of cases awaiting examination.”

In the case of Whelan, Judge Howard Crowson said: “It has taken you a very long time to get thus far, and no doubt it has weighed very heavily on your mind. So far as I can tell there has been no offending during the time of the investigation which is helpful to your case.”

Whelan, of Scourfield Road, Stockton, was given a six months jail sentence suspended for two years with supervision, ordered to complete a Sex Offender’s programme, disqualified from working with children, given a Sexual Offence’s Prevention order restricting his use of computers, and ordered to pay ï¿½250 prosecution costs.

He pleaded guilty to 16 offences of making indecent photographs of children and one of possessing indecent images of children.

Conviction after seizure

Despite the backlog of cases, forensic officers took just two months to help convict a child pervert who had a large number of child abuse images stored on his computers.

In late January 2012 Cleveland Police’s forensic computer examination team was contacted by an officer who had begun an investigation into Craig McLean, who was alleged to have committed an indecent assault on a seven-year-old girl.

He had possibly taken indecent photographs of the girl and a further two young girls of a similar age.

A large number of digital electronic devices were seized including computers, hard drives and memory sticks.

A query was raised as to how long the computer would remain in the queue of outstanding work before an examiner would be available to start an investigation.

The waiting time for a new job request from submission to execution was about nine to 12 months.

The investigating officer was informed that as his investigation involved identifiable children with the potential for further offences to occur if there were a delay, he should bring all equipment directly to the offices after they had been processed to speed up the inquiry.

After the equipment was delivered to the team it took them just two months to analyse and as a result a large number of indecent images of children were found including photographs of all child victims. They also found on a very small hard drive, which was antiquated and separate from any other devices seized, actual recorded video footage of the defendant committing a sexual offence on a child.

McLean, 28, of Barmpton Road, Billingham was charged and appeared at Teesside Crown Court in August last year. He pleaded guilty to rape and repeated sexual assaults on one pre-teenage girl and sexual offences on two others – making up nine charges.

He also admitted 17 counts of making indecent photographs.

He received an indeterminate sentence and was told he must serve at least eight years before being considered for release.